Motor bar interlock



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June 5, 1956 c. A. PARKER ET Al. 297499040 f MOTOR BAR INTERLOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 14, 1949 Jun@ 5, 1956 c. A. PARKER ET AL 2,7499040 MOTOR BAR INTERLOCK Original Filed June 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO fro/PNE YS United States arent i! MOTOR BAR INTERLOCK Charles A. Parker, Chicago, Ill., and Clifton K. Rainey, Knoxville, Tenn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Burroughs Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Origimal` application June 14, 19.49, Serial No. 99,031, now Patent No. 2,696,945, dated December 1.4, 1954. Divided and this application February 23, 1952, Serial No. 272,976

11 Claims. (Cl. 23S- 130) This invention relates to accounting machines. Ity provides a single machine operative under selective control to function as either a typing machine, a posting machine, or a calculating machine, in which all typing and all calculator indexing operations are governed from a common, single keyboard, Incidental to the performance of its various functions, the machine embodies the usual manual and automatic controls of known typewriting, posting, and calculating machines; and additionally in cludes novel manual as well as automatic controls for conditioning the machine, at the will of an operator, either to carry out or to exclude, during the performance of one of its functions, the. performance of all or part of its other functions.

This application is a division of .our copending appli'- cation Serial No. 99,081, tiled on June 14, 1949, now Patent N o. 2, 696,945 and entitled Accounting Machine.

An object of the invention is to provide an accounting machine which incorporates a typing machine and a calculating machine having a single keyboard in common.

A further object is to provide in an accounting machine including in one assembly a typing machine and a calculating machine, a ilexible interlocking and actuating means between a portion of the typing machine and the calculating machine.

Other objects will be apparent to. those skilled in the Ell't.

in the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with the front part of the main frame removed for illustration of detail; and

Figure 3 is a vertical section substantially on the line. 3-3 of Figure l.

As indicated generally in Figures l and 2, the. apparatus essentially-comprises a. main frame 40 of the general form and structure of a typewriter frame, being provided with a keyboard and having a carriage assembly C mounted on the frame for reciprocation in the usual manner of typewriter and posting machine carriage operal tion.

The machine is equipped; with a. bank of front strike type bars 4l. operated from keys 42 for frontstrike visible printing at a point determined by a type guide 43 which forms part of a hammer member 44 that operates in a manner to effect a common striking movement against a properly positioned series of adding type bars when they are disposed for printing. The keyboard has the usual spacer 4S and, at the right hand side. of the frame, a motor bar 46. On the left hand side of the framer is disposed a tabulator bar 47. The front plate of the. frame mounts keys for controlling the functions of calculating mechanism generally indicated at A. These. keys at the right hand side of the frame comprise an adding key 4S, a total key 49, a subtotal key 50 and, at the left hand side of the frame, a subtract key 5.1. The type guide 43 establishes the printing point and establishes also the decimal point for item printing in the calculating ma.-

chine operation. The carriage is provided at itsy lefty Y 2,749,040 Fatented June 5, i956 hand end with a forwardly directed return handle 52 which is substantially of conventional design and which may be rotated to effect line spacing in the usual manner of such devices.

A highly important aspect of the present invention is its selective operation under the inlluence of a function control lever 65 mounted at the left hand side of the frame in advance of the front face plate for manipulation by an operator. This function control lever 65 is adapted for movement to any of three control positions. In its uppermost position it conditions the machine for operation as an adding, machine. in its second, or interme.- diate, position the machine is conditioned to function as a posting machine. In its lowermost position the machine 'is conditioned for straight typing operation.

Another important feature of the invention resides. in the mechanism by which the numeral keys of the keyboard are converted to indexing means for the calculating unit. ln the course of such conversion the letter keysl are locked against operation. The numeral keys function as indexing means inl both the upper and intermediate positions of the function control lever 65. In the intermediate position of the function control lever, when the machine is conditioned to carry out its posting functions, the indexing means is substantially governed by the carriage controls, In the upper position of the function control lever, when the machinev is conditioned to function as a calculating machine, the indexing means is partially under carriage control.

An essential part of the machine is embodied in a driven reciprocable elementy which operates through a defined cycle between limit positions in one of which itV is at rest, under the influence of motor means actuated by clutch mechanism tripped by arm 241 and throw link 24?, when rocked by bail Zai upon manual depression of the motor bar 46, to accomplish many functions and to effect the positioning and actuation of the various members and instrumentalities by which the different operations of the associated mechanisms are carried out. This member, herein referred to as an operating frame, provides for the actuation of the various instrumentalities after the machine has been conditioned for their proper sequential operation. It is an important aspect of this invention that, for the greater part, the operation of the various levers, detents, and actuators is under the influence of springs, whereby the various elements are biased or urged into operating movement that is normally restrained by the withholding action of other elements movable under the influence of the operating frame to permit operation of the various levers, detents, and actuators under the influence of their springs. This re lieves the motor of a very considerable load, and not only assures fast,v smooth operation of the` machine but also eliminates to a major extent any possibility of breakage in the event of jamming. Should something occur to jam any parts of the mechanism, the affected parts will not 'oe moved under a force. greater than that exerted by their associated springs.

The main frame, type bars, type bar segment, the key levers with their type bar connecting wires, the universal bar, the carriage spring drive and ribbon wind, including the automatic reverse, are all substantially of known construction. Briefly described, these comprise the usual banks of letter key levers 66 and an upper bank of numeral key levers 67. As shown best in Figures 2 and 3, the key levers are pivoted at their inner ends on a cross shaft 68 mounted in the main frame structure. Each key is operated by manual depression to pull down by means of a connecting rod 59 an associated link plate 70 that is pivoted at one end to a frame cross member 71 in the usual manner of such assemblies. The link Si plate is connected by a draw bar 72 with the heel of its associated type bar.

The arm 24l which motivates the reciprocatory movement of the throw link 240 extends vertically downward beneath the front end of the link and connects at its lower end to a bail member 24S, see Figure 3, that has fixed connection to one end of a shaft 249 which is disposed transversely of the main frame in journal bearings disposed in elements of the main frame. Two of the bail members 248 are employed, one at each end of the shaft. Each has a forward portion formed as a laterally disposed tube 250 that extends transversely between the bail and which loosely receives a reinforcing rod 251 disposed transversely of the main frame between the bail members. By reason of this construction, actuation of the arm 2421. derives from depression of the motor bar 46. This bar is pivoted intermediate its ends on the main frame as at 252, see Figure 2, so that when it is manually depressed its inner end 253 is lifted. A spring 254 is connected between a point on the end of the bar 253 and to the rod 25l. Normally, this spring 254 is under a light tension suicient to lift the tube 250 so that it is engaged beneath the bottom edge of the rear end 253 of the motor bar. This engagement by the motor bar holds the actuator arm 241 in its extreme forward position with the throw link 240 advanced so that its shoulder 244 is disengaged from the clutch operator stud. When the motor bar is depressed to lift its rear end, the tension on spring 254 is increased. This increasing tension results in an upward pull on the tube 25h which, in turn, rocks the bail members 248 and their shaft 249 to swing the upper end of the actuator arm 241 rearwardly and move the throw link 240 to the point at which its shoulder 244 engages a stud and actuates the clutch operator. The motor and clutch assembly then accomplishes an operating cycle of the operating frame. When pressure on the motor bar is released the bar and its associated mechanism returns to initial position by reason of the bias of a spring 255 connected between a point on the rear end of the motor bar and a stud 256 that is carried by the key lever pivot shaft 68. This stud extends diametrically through the shaft 68 into an element of the main frame and thus is anchored rigidly with respect to the assembly. The point of connection of the spring 255 with the rear end of the motor bar is above its point of connection with the stud 256, so that the action of the spring 255 tends to pull the rear end of the motor bar down in restoring the bar to its initial position. A stud 257 mounted in the main frame extends laterally beneath the adjacent bail member 248 and limits downward movement of the member and consequently downward movement of the rear end of the motor bar 253,

A further feature of the construction just described is the engagement of the tube 25@ against the bottom edges of the key levers when the bails 248 are rocked upwardly under the influence of the spring 254 following depression of the motor bar. This upward movement of the rod 251 transmits a lifting force against the key levers and this force, although slight, is evidenced to an operator in the feel of the numeral keys. The machine of this invention enables operation of the numeral keys with both hands. In the necessarily rapid action which results from such use there is a tendency to trip the motor bar while the numeral keys are still rising to their upper limit following depression. Should this happen, the elevation of the rear end of the motor bar acting through the spring 254 and the tube 250 actually flips the numeral keys upwardly so that, in eiect, the operators lingers are lifted without conscious elort. Should a numeral key be in the course of downward movement or at a point at which its upward movement has not started at the time the motor bar is depressed, the manual force exerted downwardly on the key will be sufficient to hold down the tube 250 while at the same time the rear end of the motor bar rises. The only effect would be to increase tension on the spring 254 and the net result would be that the motor bar, even though fully depressed, could not actuate the motor as suiicient movement would not be given arm 241 and throw link 240 until the depressed key had been returned to its up position. The tube 250 functions to prevent operation of the motor even in the course of a straight typing operation if it should happen that the motor bar were accidentally depressed.

lt is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative and not restrictive, and that the invention may be practiced in any form consistent with its scope as claimed.

We claim:

l. In an accounting machine having depressible key actions, type carriers operated thereby, calculating mechanism, motor means for operating the calculating mechanism, and a manipulative lever movable from a normal position to an operative position to initiate a cycle of operation of the calculating mechanism by the motor means; a lift member underlying said key actions and normally spaced below the same, an operating connection between said lift member and the manipulative lever whereby the manipulative lever, upon movement to operative position, raises said lift member to engage and carry up to initial position any key actions not previously fully restored.

2. In an accounting machine having manually depressible keys, type carriers operated thereby, calculating mechanism, motor means for operating the calculating mechanism, and an actuator lever pivoted intermediate its ends for manual depression at one end to elevate the other, a rocker in driving connection with said motor means, an elastic operating connection between the elevation end of said lever and the rocker for motor driving movement of the rocker on depression of the actuator lever, said rocker having a portion normally spaced from the manually depressible keys and engageable therewith under the pull of said elastic connection to move back to initial position any keys manually released but not fully restored to initial position when the motor actuator lever is depressed, and said elastic connection being yieldable to permit full depression of the actuator lever without driving movement of the rocker if a key be held down when the motor actuator lever is depressed.

3. In an accounting machine, key members mounted for movement between normal and operating positions of adjustment, power means for actuating the machine through a cycle of operations, and a bar shiftable hetween normal and operated positions of adjustment and operatively connected to assist return of the key members to normal positions during movement of the bar toward operated position to initiate operation of said power means upon return of the key members to normal position coincident with movement of said bar to operated position.

4. In an accounting machine, key members mounted for movement between normal and operating positions of adjustment, means urging the key members toward normal position of adjustment, power means for actuating the machine through a cycle of operations, an actuating lever means mounted for movement between normal and operated positions of adjustment, said key members including portions thereof which while` in other than normal position of adjustment lie in the path of the actuating lever means to limit movement of the actuating lever to operated position, said key member portions being engageable with and assisted for return to normal position upon movement of the lever to operated position, means urging the actuating lever means toward normal position, and an operative connection between said actuating lever means and the power means rto initiate operation thereof when shifted to operated position.

5. In an accounting machine, key members pivotally mounted for rocking movement between normal and operating positions of adjusnnent, power means for actuating said machine through a cycle of operations, an actuating lever means pivotally mounted for rocking movement between normal and operated positions of adjustment, said key members being spaced from the actuating lever means by an amount to permit free operation of the key members between normal and operated positions of adjustment while the actuating lever means is in normal position but to dispose portions of said key members when in other than normal position in the path of said actuating lever means whereby said actuating lever means assists return of the key members to normal position during actuation thereof toward operated position, means constantly urging the actuating lever means toward normal position, and an operative connection between said actuating lever means and power means for initiating operation thereof upon movement of the actuating lever to operated position.

6. In an accounting machine, key members pivotally mounted for rocking movement between normal and operated position of adjustment, power means for actuating the machine through a cycle of operations, an actuating lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for rocking movement between normal and operated positions of adjustment, a bail pivotally mounted for rocking movement between normal and operated positions of adjustment and spaced from said key members while in normal position to permit movement of said key members to operated position of adjustment but to engage key members out of normal position when said bail is rocked towards operated positions of adjustment, a resilient connection between said actuating lever and said bail whereby the latter is urged towards operating position responsive to movement of said actuating lever to operating position whereby said key members out of normal position are engaged by said bail and assisted to return to normal position, and an operative connection between said bail and said power means for initiating operation thereof upon movement of said bail to operated position.

7. An accounting machine as claimed in claim 6 which includes means constantly urging the actuating lever toward normal position.

8. In an accounting machine having manually operable keys movable from and to a normal position in their function of operation, calculating mechanism, motor means, means to enable said motor means to drive the calculating mechanism in a cycle of operation, and a manipulative, cycle initiating, motor bar movable from a normal position to a cycle initiating position, and means operative by the motor bar upon movement of the latter to cycle initiating position to restore to normal position any of said manually operated keys out of normal position, and thereupon render said enabling means elective.

9. In an accounting machine having a group of keys for setting machine conditioning elements to control actuation functions of the machine during a cycle of operation, said keys movable from and to a normal position in setting said conditioning elements, another key movable from a normal to an operated position to initiate a cycle of operation, and a means operated by said other key for restoring any of the lirst keys to normal position before initiating a cycle of operation responsive to movement of said second key to operating position.

10. In an accounting machine having a group of keys for setting machine conditioning elements to control actuation functions of the machine during a cycle of operation, said keys being movable from and to a normal position in setting said conditioning elements, motor means for operating the calculating mechanism in a cycle of operations, a motor key movable from a normal to an operated position to actuate the motor means to begin a cycle of operation, means operatively connected to said motor key for restoring any of the first said keys to normal position upon movement of said motor key to operating position, and means to prevent actuation of the motor means upon depression of the motor key until the first keys are restored to normal position.

l1. An accounting machine having an indexable amount entering means, a calculating mechanism operable cyclically under control of said amount entering means, amount keys depressible from and returnable to normal positions, key actions operable by respective ones of said keys upon depression thereof and thereby movable from normal positions to operated positions to index said amount entering means between cycles of operation of said calculating mechanism, a drive motor, means to enable said motor to drive said calculating mechanism through a cycle of operation, a manipulative control member movable from a normal position to a cycle initiating position, and means movable by said manipulative member upon movement of the latter to cycle initiating position to render said enabling means effective, said movable means being, in said movement by said manipulative member, engageable with portions of key actions moved from normal positions to restore said moved actions and their depressed keys to their normal positions prior to rendering said enabling means effective.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,317,604 Thieme Sept. 30, 1919 1,866,023 Friden July 4, 1922 1,731,701 Bernau Oct. 15, 1929 1,886,148 Baumann et al Nov. l, 1932 2,121,683 Britten Iune 2, 1938 2,287,151 Turck .Tune 23, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 602,353 Germany Sept. 8, 1934 

